The annual competition drew 58 entries this year from all over the county from teachers and other support personnel in the education community. Each entry sought to explain how their idea would benefit their own education, their class, students, school and/or the community. The entries were reviewed by a team of judges, made up of members of Freedom's senior management and board, along with business partners in the community, to determine how well the entry was presented, including how creative and well written.

Esposito was selected for her entry detailing her work in STEM education, including how the funds would be used to continue to bring students and educators together from all around the county to a summer camp reaching out to elementary, middle and high school students.

The Bel Air High School program, which is led by Esposito, is nationally certified as a "Project Lead the Way" school for implementation of a biomedical sciences program and is recognized as a model school.

In addition to Esposito's essay, another submission stood out to the judging panel, which decided to also award an honorable mention prize to Alexander Baliko.

Baliko, a physical education teacher at Edgewood Elementary, was awarded $250 for his entry, which advocated teaching children better food choices and the benefits of staying active for a lifetime. His idea incorporated nutrition, reading and math with creative games.

"Freedom is proud of the opportunity to recognize the members of the education community, both teachers and support staff, who are educating the youth of our community and preparing the leaders of tomorrow. The educators and Freedom share a common mission, that of supporting the advancement of the Harford County community," Rose Ann Lambert, president/CEO of Freedom, said.

"Freedom is committed," she said, "to being a good neighbor and giving back to the Harford County community by helping the many great people and organizations that serve Harford County."

To read the winning entries, or to learn more about Freedom's Golden Apple program and the ongoing commitment to support of the community, visit http://www.freedomfcu.org.

Freedom Federal Credit Union is a community-chartered federal credit union offering consumer financial services to those who live, work, volunteer, worship, attend school or have family in Harford County. Additionally, Freedom offers a full-line of banking services for all businesses, associations and other organizations that are based in Harford County. Freedom has been in business since 1953 and has five area locations.

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